Searching for Professional Rodent Removal Secrets That Work for Atlanta, Georgia Homeowners?
Today we’re going to be talking about 4 Professional Rodent Removal Secrets That Work for Atlanta, Georgia Homeowners, Handymen, & Do-it-yourselfers (DIY). Many clients find themselves in situations at times that may possibly require professional assistance, but they would like to give it a try themselves first. Call it pride, call it frugal, or you could even call it stubborn. Either way, rodent infestations can be very hazardous & today we will provide you with 4 professional rodent removal secrets to successfully handle your own rodent removal emergency in Atlanta, GA.
Rat in the house on the floor
Step 1 – Wildlife Inspection Interior & Exterior:
By far one of the most important steps in the rodent removal process, is step 1. Why is that? Well first off, during the inspection of your affected areas (attics, basements, crawlspaces, laundry rooms, kitchen cabinets, etc.) you will find most importantly, what rodent or critter you are dealing with inside your home & how to properly identify them. This is extremely important when it comes to step 2. During your interior inspection, you will look for droppings, signs of nesting material (usually insulation or leaves), foul odors of urine, & possibly even some entry point holes where the animals are entering your living space.
During the exterior inspection you will be strictly looking for entry points where the rodents can gain access to the internals, framing, or unfinished areas of your home or structure. Depending on the size of the critters you’re dealing with, will determine the size of the entry holes you’re looking for. For example, if you are dealing with a squirrel infestation, the entry point will normally be about the size of a baseball; where as if you are dealing with mice or roof rats the holes tend to be smaller down to almost 3/8 of an inch. Identify your critter & their entry areas in order to properly perform steps 2 & 3!
Rat droppings on a furnace in an attic.
Step 2 – Rodent Trapping & Bait:
The importance of knowing what rodent you’re dealing with before running off to buy traps, is key & will save you headaches, as well as $$. You wouldn’t set sticky boards to trap a grey squirrel (because they might run off with it), as you wouldn’t set a squirrel cage with 1 inch openings to trap tiny field mice (because they would eat the bait out of the cage & walk out thanking you for a free meal). During a rat trapping program, Perimeter Wildlife Control would recommend the plain old-fashioned wooden rat traps, there are numerous brands available, but in our experience & opinion the Victor Manufacturing traps with “professional triggers” tend to be the best.
When it comes to baiting your traps, selection of what you bait them with is also very important. Peanut butter has been used by pest control companies for decades due to the smell it retains for long periods of time & because rodents in general are attracted to it. However, at Perimeter Wildlife we have found that sometimes baits need to be changed up in order to trap your specific critter, something sweeter, something they are eating in your kitchen, etc. Sometimes making your own bait is the best critter bait there is. Which ever route you decide to go with the rodent bait, make sure you do trap the animal(s) before moving on to step 3!!
Large Rat trapped in Metro Atlanta, GA.
Step 3 – Wildlife & Rodent Exclusion Repairs:
Rodent Exclusion repairs can be extremely simple or very involved depending on your situation. Basic repairs can range from screening or installing some type of vent at ground level or on a short ladder, securing or foaming / siliconing areas along your foundation (A/C lines, gas lines, & other utilities), etc. Wildlife exclusion repairs can also be very involved or dangerous to perform for homeowners, installing metal flashing on roof & gutter lines for example can sometimes require high ladders, walking on steeply pitched roofs & literally going around the entire home to properly complete the repair. At Perimeter Wildlife, we specialize in the removal of rodents & other nuisance wildlife which means we are properly equipped for just about any situation nature throws our way. When we perform a full wildlife exclusion on a structure, all areas larger than ¼ of an inch that are possible entry points are sealed, sometimes even rappelling off the roof is required to complete the project effectively.
DripEdge flashing installed,but not secured on roofline at Atlanta, GA Home. Metal installed & not properly secured will allow animals to still access attic areas.
Step 4 – Cleaning up Rodent Damages & Decontamination
Cleaning up the mess that animals have left behind is essential to keeping critters out of your home permanently. Most rodents will follow a scent trail to return to the areas they have been to previously. Cleaning up of droppings & urine soaked insulation or building materials is important. This process can be minimal if your rodent issue was something new & recent, however this process could also be much more involved if you have been dealing with a severe rodent infestation for a while. For example, removing replacing all contaminated or soiled insulation from an attic or crawlspace could prove to be very costly, additionally steps should be taken to clean up any & all droppings left behind by the critters. Upon replacing insulation it is also recommended to sanitize or decontaminate / deodorize the attic space or unfinished areas to remove the scent left behind by the nuisance wildlife that entered your home or structure. Most products used by Perimeter Wildlife will also disinfect & kill any residual germs or bacterias involved with the animals having entered.
Attic Insulation damaged by rodents in Sandy Springs, GA. | Perimeter Wildlife Control
